From Premier Jason Kenney

I know there's many who are angry about restrictions still being in place on business operations, whether in Calgary or Brooks, or elsewhere across the province. I also know there are others who think we're moving too fast.I want everyone to know that I would love nothing more than to open everything up, go back to the way it was before COVID-19, and pretend like it never happened.But we simply can't do that. Other jurisdictions that have opened everything up without any precautions have seen massive outbreaks spark back up, creating unmanageable pressure on their health care systems. This has happened in some places in the U.S. like Alabama, and even in countries who previously had it under control like Singapore. That then forced these places to clamp down twice as hard and close parts of the economy all over again.We do not want to do that in Alberta. We want to open up carefully, confidently, and permanently so we don't lose all the progress we've made thus far in containing the virus.That's why, in the interest of our economy and public health, we will always make informed decisions, with cool heads, on the latest available medical evidence we have. That's the surest path to getting a foothold on this virus, and ensuring we can get back to a version of normal where we protect both lives and livelihoods.

I know there’s many who are angry about restrictions still being in place on business operations, whether in Calgary or Brooks, or elsewhere across the province. I also know there are others who think we’re moving too fast.

I want everyone to know that I would love nothing more than to open everything up, go back to the way it was before COVID-19, and pretend like it never happened.

But we simply can’t do that. Other jurisdictions that have opened everything up without any precautions have seen massive outbreaks spark back up, creating unmanageable pressure on their health care systems. This has happened in some places in the U.S. like Alabama, and even in countries who previously had it under control like Singapore. That then forced these places to clamp down twice as hard and close parts of the economy all over again.

We do not want to do that in Alberta. We want to open up carefully, confidently, and permanently so we don’t lose all the progress we’ve made thus far in containing the virus.

That’s why, in the interest of our economy and public health, we will always make informed decisions, with cool heads, on the latest available medical evidence we have. That’s the surest path to getting a foothold on this virus, and ensuring we can get back to a version of normal where we protect both lives and livelihoods.

Alberta’s COVID-19 breakthrough – Highest number of tests and lowest number of new cases in one day

It certainly appears to be a sign that the first wave of COVID-19 is abating. Friday, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer reported 6,455 people were tested over the last 24 hours and there were only 7 new positive cases. This resulted in a very interesting video update from Dr. Deena Hinshaw as the province announced several changes that will be resulting from the success of Alberta’s battle with COVID-19.

Albertans will soon be able to visit loved ones in hospital. The province will continue to move toward protecting Albertans at the highest risk of severe outcomes. That means more freedoms for the majority of Albertans as the province prepares to announce Stage 2 details early next week.

Kenney says details are coming next week, but adds the province is “looking closely” at a recent eviction ban imposed in British Columbia.

Earlier this week, the B.C. government announced it was imposing new rules on landlords who are eligible for federal rent relief but don’t apply for it and try to evict tenants for lack of payment.

Those landlords will not be allowed to evict such tenants through to the end of the month, when the federal rent relief program is set to end.

Kenney says he is hesitant to bring in a blanket ban, given that there may be legitimate reasons to evict a tenant, but says Alberta is taking action and commercial landlords need to “get with the program.”

Kenney also announced a new $200-million program to provide small- and medium-sized businesses with up to $5,000 each to help them reopen following government-imposed lockdowns to battle the pandemic.